ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Cantare

This album is a compilation of originals written over the past couple years. Some are lighthearted love songs, like “Funny Thing” which was the first song I ever wrote, while others have a deeper meaning. “Hun, We’ll Be Fine” was written from the perspective of a woman who has little time left with her husband, who is terminally ill – inspired by one of the closest and dearest couples of my childhood. “Life of Love” incorporates three true stories of looking for hope and peace in a situation of heartache - to choose love when times are hard.

The album’s title track, “Cantare” was written about an experience I had while exploring the beauty of Italy and Switzerland during my semester abroad in college. I met many amazing people along the way, but one encounter was especially inspiring. My traveling companion and I were in Luca, Italy at the station waiting for a train that would take us to our next destination. As I gently strummed my ukulele, a homeless man approached me and said, “Cantare! Cantare!” so I started singing. He stopped me and said, “Iyo cantare, iyo cantare” – meaning “I sing, I sing.” He was speaking Italian, but it was clear that he wanted me to play as he sang. I didn’t know what to play, but eventually thought of “Ave Maria.” Everyone knows Ave Maria! He looked at me and with a twinkle in his eye and a pointed finger, he responded, “Schubert.” After singing the song together, the man pulled two wrinkled and torn papers from his bag revealing the fact that he, too, was an opera singer when he was younger. Music truly is the universal language.

I want to thank all my family and friends, who have provided support, inspiration and their own musical talents during the making of this album. Without their love and kindness, this album would not have been such an enriching and fulfilling experience. Special thanks to David Kaye, for encouraging and enhancing my vision.

Songs by Kate FlaniganRecorded and Mixed by David Kaye at Creeksound Studio

Restless no I can’t relax and the rage is running deepDeep inside of me and I know that I won’t sleepKnowing you’re with her after what you’ve said to meWho’d trust a guy like that, they say that a cheat will always cheat

I sit here wondering, I’ve got one thing on my mindTo tell your lady friend to stop wasting her timeI want nothing more than to expose every lieBut I’m moving on, and plus she aint blind

Chorus

3. Fallin FastI’m supposed to be working on my portfolioBut there are a few things that I wanted you know, I want you to know that you mean the world to meEven though we’re separated by the seaYou mean the world to me

For me you were always thereThe way you listen, showing me you careYou’re always thereYou help figure out what’s right from wrongSupport me yeah, you keep me strongYou keep me strong

Chorus

4. CantareI met an old man at the stationHe had no dollar to his nameI didn’t speak his languageBut we spoke just the sameHe said, “Cantare” so I sang a little songI saw the joy spread in his smileHe looked at me and asked if he could sing alongJust for a little while

So we sang Ave Maria, our own duetWas this Ave Maria, a song in a world where two hearts met

Our song was sung but then he reached into his bagPulled out two papers, they were tattered and tornThey told of younger years of times different than theseOf a life not yet forlornOne was a picture of a boy about my ageI recognized his familiar, gentle smileThe other a concert flyer, his name in big blackHe pointed to himself and gave me a wink

He used to sing Ave Maria, I brought him to his pastSinging Ave MariaThe reminisce of a dream that didn’t last

I left that old man at the stationHe had no dollar to his nameI didn’t speak his languageBut we spoke just the sameCus we sang Ave MariaGratia plena, Maria gratia plenaMaria gratia plena Ave, Ave dominusDominus tecum, Ave Maria, Ave Maria

5. Hun, We’ll Be FineI couldn’t sleep so I wrote you this songI wrote it for you cus I know we belongNow I don’t have much time to sing it for youSo listen and know that what I say is true

Chorus:Hun we’ll be fineClose your eyesAnd we’ll flyI’ll be yours for all time

I had you, and you had meAnd then we had ourselves a familyA life full of laughter and good honest loveEvery moment with you is a gift from above

There are natural disasters and our county is at warI know it sounds dumb but nothing scares me moreThan you not being with me, beside me one dayI know if you could that you’d turn and say

Chorus

Now I can sleep cus I’ve sung you your songI know next time that you’ll sing alongWe’ll sing it together, not just for a whileTogether we’ll sing and together we’ll smileClose your eyes, and we’ll fly I’ll be yours for all time

Chorus

6. I Met a BoyI met a boy, I met a boy and he needs to knowHe needs to know why he makes me smile so much when I’m with himMaybe it’s cus we don’t mind going cross-eyedOr sticking our tongues out, giving a loud shoutWhen we’re walking, when we’re talking yeah

Chorus:1I found something comfortable, I found something goodI can be myself and act just like I know I shouldOh I, I met a boy

This boy, oh this boy although he’s coy I do enjoyAll the time I get to spend with himHe’s half Welch, he’ll tell you soThe other half is cowboy, I’ll have you knowThe perfect combination for a great temptation, yeah

Chorus

I left this boy, I left this boyAnd he needs to know, he needs to know why I’ve been feeling incomplete and downIt’s because he’s the guy who blew my mindAnd in those few nights changed my whole life With his smile and that English style, yeah

Chorus

7. Life of LoveA young girl cries herself to sleep one last timeShe never knew her love could be such a crimeThat a mother could tell her son, who he could and could not wedSo she called him up to say choose your family or choose me instead,

She said, “I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it, oh, I’ve dealt itThe pain in this world is unrealSo please choose a life of love, now and forever more”

A boy is tucked into his bed all warm and tightHis parents know they are going to lose the fightTo keep him there with them is what they long to doBut God has other plans, and so their prayer to God is true

They pray, “We’ve seen it, we’ve felt it, oh we’ve dealt itThe pain in this world is unrealWe ask for the strength to love and let him goAnd for peace when he’s with youA priest walks into his church late one nightHe finds an old man singing in the balcony lightHe said, “Can I help you sir, could I ask why you’re here?”The man smiled and said, “I’m just singing for my God up there”

He said, “I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it, oh I’ve dealt itThe pain in this world is unrealSo I’m singing a song for my God, He could use it right now.”

We see it, we feel it, oh we deal itThe pain in this world is unrealBut we can choose a life of loveNow and forever more.

8. TiredTwice now I’ve had a dream that you came to me And you said, “Baby hold me close now, closer than the dayThe day we held each other and the day when I walked away.”

I try to love with my whole heart and with you I wanna startBut it breaks me to not be able to love you endlesslyYou’ve got her and she’s got you and I, I’ve got me.

Chorus:And as the sun and the moon take turns in the skyMy heart and my mind try to tell each other whyWhy I stay, why I go, why I show the love that you won’t showWhy I am tired

So sing to me and tell me that you’re freeOh tell me that you love me, that you need me, that you’re mineTell me that your thoughts and dreams are of me, of me all the time

Chorus

9. Funny ThingI’ve got a funny thing for youAnd I know that you like me tooI know that you’re leaving, but tell me it aint trueCus I’ve got a funny thing for you

You’ve got that crazy kind of smileYour brown eyes and freckles drive me wildAnd to add to the list, you’ve got great stylePlus you’ve got that crazy kind of smile

You’ve got me in a kind of dazeWith your charm and spontaneous kind of waysIf you wanna slow down you better change those waysCus you’ve got me in a kind of daze

Don’t tell me I’m special cus I won’t careCome tomorrow night you wont be thereI know you’ve got plans boy, but remember what we’ve sharedAnd that we make one hell of a pair

I’ve got a funny thing for youI know that you like me tooI know that you’re leaving, but tell me it aint trueCus I’ve got a funny thing for you

10. Fly With MeOoh baby, ooh baby you’re driving me so crazy, I had to let you knowThat you’ve got me, you’ve got me where I never thought I would beI never thought I could be

ChorusSo come and fly with me tonight, Come away with me in the morning lightAnd we’ll fly to where our dreams come trueSail on a silver, come sailing with meAnd we’ll sail to where our hearts can be free.